The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) is pleased to announce it has been selected as the winner of the 2020 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award.

"We are excited and honoured to have won this prestigious award, in recognition of our commitment to promoting and protecting human rights," Mr Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director of the APF secretariat, said.

The Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award, established by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) in 2006, honours individuals and organisations that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to advancing democracy or human rights through peaceful means in Asia.

"Winning this award is an affirmation of the crucial work carried out by national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in the Asia Pacific region, often in very difficult situations," Mr Fitzpatrick said.

TFD Chairperson You Si-kun said that granting the award to the APF was in recognition of the organisation's work in ensuring regional governments understand the significance of human rights implementation.

For almost 25 years, the APF has helped build an Asia Pacific where human rights are promoted and protected. Over that time, APF members – national human rights institutions – have used their unique mandates to lead genuine and lasting change in their countries.

Established in 1996 with five members, the APF membership now includes 25 NHRIs from all corners of the Asia Pacific.

"Receiving the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award will help us to continue supporting national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific," Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, Chairperson of the APF, said.

"It will enable our members to continue their fight against injustices, to stand up for those in need of protection and to ensure that vulnerable groups have a say in decisions that affect them."

"It will also ensure that they can continue to drive genuine change, by influencing laws and policies, monitoring human rights violations and holding governments to account," Professor Croucher said.

The APF will be formally presented with the award at a virtual ceremony to be held on Human Rights Day on 10 December 2020.

Further information, including a formal acceptance speech by Professor Croucher, will be available on the website on 10 December.